Madison's sesquicentennial celebration at Monona Terrace was a blend of art and ethnic heritage. But despite the variety of historical and cultural activities, the most popular event was the cake.
Celebrate Madison is an annual community event, but this year was a special birthday bash\ for the city. The celebratory feeling began at the door as citizens were given key chains and offered nametags.
Monona Terrace's multiple ballrooms were filled with booths representing local groups, especially those involved in the arts. One large room held a stage where Call for Peace Drum and Dance Co. entertained a large crowd with a range of cultural dancers performing together to the beat of ethnic drums.
The other popular ballroom was turned into a kids' activity room, where children could try everything from papier mâché to origami and making cornhusk dolls. A Taiwanese puppet theater was set up and several children carried balloon creations.
Promptly at 3 p.m., people on stilts began chanting, ""Here comes the cake,"" and a cart carrying the city's ceremonial blue and white 150th birthday cake appeared. Nine more carts with pre-cut marble slices followed the main cake.
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz gave a brief speech before cutting the cake, which he heralded as a symbol of city history.
""This is an opportunity to take stock of our past and look to our future,"" Cieslewicz said, going on to take credit for the party's centerpiece. ""Whatever else you think I may have done, I delivered on the sheet cake.""
A Madison 150 Commission member shouted, ""Let there be cake,"" and the crowd pushed toward the carts. Caterers continually replenished the empty cake trays.
When the cake slices outnumbered the citizens battling for them, the atmosphere returned to its pre-cake calm. Dick Wagner, chair of the Madison 150 Commission, said he was pleased with the event.
""Today went great,"" Wagner said. ""We had a huge turnout.""
Wagner said the celebration reflected the pride Madisonians have in their city.
""They're really happy to be here, to be a part of Madison,"" he said. ""And that's a great sense to have of the city.""
Several of the stilt walkers were teenagers from the Jolly Giants Stiltwalking Co. Disa Carneol, 17, said her favorite part of the day was the cake, and her tall companions agreed.
The event ran smoothly, and the biggest crisis was resolved when Cieslewicz announced that a lost child had been found.
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